While we’re all finally enjoying some summer sunshine, colder nights are just around the corner, and with the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent announcement that winter fuel payments will now be restricted to those on pension credits or other means-tested benefits, many will be looking for further ways to make their pennies stretch further and use their central heating in a cost-effective way when temperatures fall this winter.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, heating and hot water account for over half of a typical household’s bills so knowing how to save energy has never mattered more. It’s therefore important to make the best use of your boiler whether you use heating oil, LPG, or any other fuel, and understand your central heating system so you can manage your heating bills.
There’s little wonder therefore that the debate as to whether to leave your heating on all day or switch it on and off as required has been a hot topic for many years. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at what the experts say, and what you can do to reduce your heating costs this winter.
What the experts say
An independent organisation and a respected and trusted voice when it comes to energy efficiency, the Energy Savings Trust advises that the most energy-efficient way to heat your home is to program your system to heat when needed, so your heating switches on just before you wake up and runs while you’re at home, and switches back off again before you go to bed, or when you’re away from home. They say the idea you use less fuel by keeping your central heating running constantly is a myth, especially if you have an inefficient or aging central heating boiler.
The Trust argues that leaving your boiler on all the time means it has to work overtime, as it will be constantly running and using energy to keep the temperature in your home at a set level. In addition, your home will lose heat throughout the day, especially if it’s poorly insulated, so the continuous running of your heating system will waste energy as the heat seeps through your walls, doors and windows.
However, some heating engineers dispute this. They argue that when your boiler first fires up it requires a big surge of energy and has to work hard to heat your home to the desired temperature from cold. Plus, there’s also strain on boiler components such as the ignition system and heat exchanger each time your boiler fires up which can lead to long-term wear and tear and potentially shorten your boiler’s lifespan.
Take control of your heat
Whilst the jury’s out as to whether it’s cheaper to leave your heating on all day or not, nowadays modern heating controls such as thermostats are here to help you to take control and keep your home warm and cozy without overheating and wasting energy.
As a minimum, your central heating system should have a programmer/timer, and thermostatic radiator valves. Modern thermostats have accurate temperature sensors so you can control temperatures in individual rooms and can allow different temperatures to be set at different times.
You can upgrade or install heating controls without replacing your boiler, and it’s worth considering installing new controls if you don’t have a programmer/timer, so you can control when your heating and hot water come on and go off as well. The Energy Savings Trust encourages householders to plan ahead and think carefully about when they need their heating, factoring in heating up and cooling down times, and setting timers accordingly.
Regular maintenance is important too. Having your boiler serviced each year will keep it running at its optimum performance so it doesn't drop in efficiency - it can lower your annual heating bill by as much as 10%.
Keep the heat in this winter and the cold out with low-cost fixes
With many of us feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis, the good news is that making your home more energy efficient doesn’t need to break the bank. There are some quick, simple low-cost fixes that can really make a difference.
Simple things like reducing heat loss by installing a letterbox draught excluder and keyhole cover, draught proofing your windows and doors with draught-proof strips or expanding foam that can be bought for just a few pounds from your local DIY, making home-made draught excluders from old clothing, adding radiator reflector panels that bounce heat back into the room, and bleeding your radiators are just a few.
Top energy-saving mistakes
Whilst there are some really effective measures you can take to cut your energy consumption and save costs, there are also some things to avoid, and here are just a few:
- Having your boiler temperature set too high. If your boiler flow temperature, which handles the temperature that your boiler heats water up to before sending it off to your radiators, is set to higher than 65 degrees, it’s wasting money. Conventional boilers with hot water cylinders need to be set at 65 degrees to keep legionella bacteria away – but no higher.
- Using the wrong appliance when cooking. According to the Energy Savings Trust, cooking a 600g chicken breast in an electric oven costs £0.18 whereas in an air fryer this reduces to £0.13. Over a year the savings can add up. Read more about our kitchen energy efficiency tips.
- Leaving appliances on standby. Your electronic devices still use energy when in standby mode – this type of energy is known as ‘Vampire power’. Save energy by switching off at the plug and unplugging phone chargers when not required.
- Leaving lights on in empty rooms. Simple to turn-off, and a potentially large saving over the year.
- Forgetting to shut internal doors to rooms that aren't heated/are not in use.
- Filling the kettle every time you make a cuppa. If you’re only making one, then fill your kettle to boil just enough water for that one cuppa, and don’t waste energy heating water you don’t need.
If you are a heating oil user, one thing you can do to improve your fuel economy is to upgrade to Premium Heating Oil. This cleaner burning oil, which is standard kerosene with an additive, has been specially formulated to make your boiler run at its best, and improves boiler efficiency by up to 15%. It's also worth keeping an eye on oil prices so you can make an informed decision about when to buy your heating oil.
So, in conclusion, there’s no clear-cut answer to whether it's best to leave your heating running or switch it on and off as required, and a lot can depend on how well your home is insulated, your usage patterns, as well as your own preferred way of heating your home - there are arguments for both.
The best way to find out is to experiment with your system. Try leaving your heating on 24/7 for a period of time and then comparing energy costs with a period where your heating is programmed to switch on and off - for best results, you’ll need to make sure you’re testing in similar weather conditions and temperatures.
Get in touch with us at Northern Energy for a hassle-free LPG quote or Heating Oil quote.